Lost in the Fog put to test in Dash

If numbers don't lie, then Lost in the Fog is, truthfully, the most probable winner on the card Saturday at Gulfstream Park. A Florida-bred son of Lost Soldier who is based in northern California, Lost in the Fog has rocketed to victories at Golden Gate Fields and Turf Paradise while earning dazzling Beyer Speed Figures of 103 and 109. None of his nine 3-year-old rivals in the six-furlong $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash can get within hailing distance of those figs.

But trainer Greg Gilchrist is not about to count his money before the dealing's done. Lost in the Fog is traveling cross-country and meeting far stronger competition than what he has seen to date. Still, those Beyer Figures, earned while winning two starts by a combined margin of more than 22 lengths, will make the unbeaten Lost in the Fog one of the focal points of Saturday's four races at Gulfstream.

"I like everything I've seen," Gilchrist said. "He beat a maiden field at Golden Gate easily, but the horses he beat up on in Arizona, I mean, he was supposed to win that race. This is a little different. It's a little stiffer competition. It's flattering to get those Beyer Figures, but I don't know how much they mean."

Gilchrist purchased Lost in the Fog privately for owner Harry Aleo after being the underbidder when the colt was bought back last year at a sale in Ocala, Fla. Lost in the Fog had sore shins last spring, and he did not make his debut until Nov. 14. The wait was worth it, because Lost in the Fog won by 7 1/2 lengths at Golden Gate. Six weeks later, Lost in the Fog won by 14 3/4 lengths in front in the Arizona Juvenile at Turf Paradise.

"I didn't know how special he'd be," Gilchrist said. "He was always very forward in his training, right from the start. I liked him at the sale because he's a good-looking horse, and I liked the way he moved."

He moves fast. In addition to his runaway wins, Lost in the Fog has trained swiftly. On Jan. 15, he sped five furlongs in 57.80 seconds at Golden Gate.

"It's hard to slow him down in the morning," said Gilchrist, who said Lost in the Fog "really shipped well" to Florida.

Florida has eight of the 10 entrants in the Dash, including California-based invaders Bushwacker and Seize the Day. The last time they sprinted, they were second and third in the Hollywood Prevue behind eventual 2-year-old champ Declan's Moon.

The best Cal-bred in the Dash is Run Thruthe Sun, who comes off a powerful victory against a first-level statebred field at Santa Anita Jan. 13. He has won 3 of 4 starts.